Caring and working: developing insights into the world of the working carer.

Abstract

This paper reports on a study exploring the experiences of working carers in the South of England - part of a larger research project exploring carers needs, experiences and ideas about improving carer involvement in research. The purpose of this element of the project was to understand the experience of being in paid employment whilst providing unpaid care to someone, including adjustments made to employment, support provided by employers and support agencies, the impact on the carers perceived wellbeing and ideas for improving their involvement in carers research. An online survey was distributed across a range of employers in four counties located in the South of England and n=51 participants responded to share their experiences. The survey was coproduced with n=6 unpaid carers who attended a one and a half hour facilitated workshop where they contributed to the design and development of the questionnaire. Amendments to the questionnaire were then reviewed by n=2 of the workshop participants chosen at random who provided additional comments and revisions before it was distributed. Several themes emerged concerning the carers experience at work, the support mechanisms in place which were helpful to them, issues and challenges experienced and ranked suggestions for future research to develop further understanding of the world of the working carer. We discuss areas where changes in policy and practice might address working carer concerns in relation to their retention in the workforce and ability to juggle all aspects of their working life with their caring responsibilities. This research highlights the importance of developing more humanised ways of understanding working carer needs - including further training to support wider organisational culture - to meaningfully support them in meeting their full potential within the workforce.